delinquent - adjective

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• with unpaid sums of money due

• The Pattons were charged a late fee for their delinquent bill.

dishearten - verb

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• to make somebody lose hope or enthusiasm

• The protesters were disheartened by the number of people who refuse to recycle.

executor - noun

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• somebody named in a will or appointed by a court to carry out the instructions contained in a will

• Bryan was named the executor of Avery's will.

insomnia - noun

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• inability to fall asleep or to remain asleep long enough to feel rested
• Seth suffered from insomnia. He was tired every morning.

knack - noun

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• an easy, clever way of doing something or handling people

• Some people have a knack for making beautiful food.

lectern - noun

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• a stand with a slanted top on which a book or lecture notes can rest before a standing speaker

• The speaker used the lectern to hold his speech as he addressed the audience.

mortuary - noun

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• a room or building in which dead bodies are kept until they are buried or cremated

• The mortuary was full after the horrible fire.

profusion - noun

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• a large quantity of something

• There was a profusion of bees hanging in the tree above the barn.

novice - noun

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• somebody who has just started learning or doing something new and has no previous experience or skill

• The drawing was clearly colored by a novice artist.

perplex - verb

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• to puzzle or confuse somebody

• Sometimes really hard math can perplex a student.

ordain - verb

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• to appoint officially as a priest, minister or rabbi

• The ministers were ordained last Sunday during Mass.

puppeteer - noun

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• somebody who operates puppets or who gives puppet shows

• The Muppets were all controlled by puppeteers.

quotient - noun

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• the number that results from the division of one number by another

• The students used the poster to remind them how to find the quotient for the math problem.

amputate - verb

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• to cut off a limb or other appendage of the body

• The doctors had to amputate the finger after it got stuck in the grinder.

boutonniere - noun

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• a small flower worn in a buttonhole

• All the men the bridal party wore a boutonniere.

chihuahua - noun

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• a very small dog belonging to a breed originally from Mexico

• Brandy bought her daughter a chihuahua for her birthday.

delicatessen - noun

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• a store specializing in imported or unusual foods and ingredients such as cooked meats, cheeses and pickles

• We went to the famous delicatessen at Navy Pier this summer.

embody - verb

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• to gather or organize a number of things into a whole

• The science project had to embody all of the required components.

foliage - noun

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• the leaves of a plant or tree

• We went on a hike to study the foliage along the trail.

gingivitis - noun

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• inflammation of the gums around the roots of the teeth

• If you do not properly brush your teeth, you will form gingivitis and other diseases.